Compare towns
Dedham vs Middlesex vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Middlesex | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,943Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.